Saiho Ko, Ichiro Tanaka, Hiromichi Kanehiro, Hideki Kanokogi, Jun‐ichi Ori, Midori Shima, Akira Yoshioka, Alan Giles, Yoshiyuki Nakajima – 21 April 2005 – The cause of hemophilia is deficiency of coagulation factor VIII production in the liver, which can be cured by liver transplantation. Because the hepatic function of hemophilia patients is quite normal except for production of factor VIII, auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation (APOLT) is beneficial in that patient survival is secured by preserving native liver even in the event of graft loss.

Ayano Inui, Tsuyoshi Sogo, Haruki Komatsu, Hiroshi Miyakawa, Tomoo Fujisawa – 21 April 2005 – Graft dysfunction mimicking autoimmune hepatitis rarely develops after liver transplantation for nonautoimmune disease. The mechanism(s) and causes of de novo autoimmune hepatitis are unknown. We examined autoantibodies serially in a patient with de novo autoimmune hepatitis and in patients without de novo autoimmune hepatitis after liver transplantation.

Miguel García González, Carlos Pera Madrazo, Ángel Bernardos Rodríguez, Manuel Gómez Gutiérrez, J. Ignacio Herrero, José Mir Pallardó, Jorge Ortiz de Urbina, Pascual Parrilla Paricio – 21 April 2005 – Triple therapy combining an anticalcineurin agent, corticosteroids, and azathioprine (AZA) in liver transplantation has been frequently applied, particularly in Europe. Debates have arisen concerning the use of a third drug (AZA), mainly in patients receiving tacrolimus (TAC).

Hector Rodriguez‐Luna, Hugo E. Vargas – 21 April 2005 – Key Points

Neal R. Barshes, G. Douglas Myers, Dean Lee, Saul J. Karpen, Timothy C. Lee, Akash J. Patel, Milton Finegold, John A. Goss – 21 April 2005 – Graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) often occurs after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). GVHD may lead to cirrhosis or complete destruction of the bile ducts, and few effective treatment options exist for such cases. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has been described as an option, but to date the patient survival, graft survival, and GVHD recurrence rates after OLT have been unknown.

Maud Bessems, Benedict M. Doorschodt, Arlène K. van Vliet, Thomas M. van Gulik – 21 April 2005 – For experimental machine perfusion (MP) of the liver, the modified University of Wisconsin solution (UW‐G) is most often used. In our search for an enriched MP preservation solution, Polysol was developed. Polysol is enriched with various amino acids, vitamins, and other nutrients for the liver metabolism. The aim of this study was to compare Polysol with UW‐G for MP preservation of the liver. Rat livers were preserved during 24 hours with hypothermic MP using UW‐G (n = 5) or Polysol (n = 5).

Alfredo Marzano, Pietro Lampertico, Vincenzo Mazzaferro, Silvia Carenzi, Mauro Vigano, Raffaele Romito, Andrea Pulvirenti, Alessandro Franchello, Massimo Colombo, Mauro Salizzoni, Mario Rizzetto – 21 April 2005 – The combination of lamivudine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) reduces the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT). However, the efficacy of this strategy and the need for combined therapy with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) in patients who select lamivudine‐resistant strains (YMDD) before surgery is still unknown.

Hartmut Jaeschke, Cathleen Cover, Mary Lynn Bajt – 19 April 2005

Gaspare Maria Pendino, Andrea Mariano, Pasquale Surace, Carmelo Antonio Caserta, Maria Teresa Fiorillo, Angela Amante, Stefania Bruno, Carmelo Mangano, Irene Polito, Fulvia Amato, Rodolfo Cotichini, Tommaso Stroffolini, Alfonso Mele, ACE Collaborating Group – 19 April 2005 – Serum biochemical liver tests (LTs) (ALT, AST, GGT) and platelet counts are often used to screen for chronic liver disease. Population‐based data on abnormal LTs in Mediterranean areas are lacking.

William B. Coleman, D. Hunter Best – 19 April 2005